Elizabeth Smithson, MSP, CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist who has over 10 years of professional experience working with infants, children, adolescents and adults. She earned her Master of Speech Pathology at the University of South Carolina. Liz is also a Level 5 TalkTools® Trained Therapist. She has received specialized training in Oral Placement Therapy, Speech, Feeding, Apraxia, Sensory Processing Disorders, and PROMPT©. Liz works with clients with a wide range of disabilities including Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, and Spinal Muscular Atrophy.  She works through her own private practice Elizabeth Smithson Therapy, LLC in the home setting and in the TalkTools® office in Charleston, SC.

Hey Sara,

 

Recently you had a parent open question meeting in Corpus Christi, TX. I was there with my 8 month old baby. You were talking to a woman who's 5ish son with Down syndrome was repeatedly hitting his chin and you mentioned he was satisfying a feeling that was in his jaw by that action. I have noticed my baby has started doing that with her left hand. What do you recommend to help correct/redirect this behavior now?

 

-L

Hi L,

The sight of stability and calming for an infant is in the temporomandibular joint. This joint is where the upper and lower jaw meet right below the ear. There are more nerve endings going through that joint than any other location in the human body. When a baby sucks his/her thumb, sucks from a bottle, sucks on a pacifier, etc. the nerves in that joint are stimulated and the baby calms or even falls a sleep. If your child is doing other behaviors to stimulate the jaw like hitting the chin or for older children it may be teeth grinding, then it is probably time to introduce the Bite-Tube Hierarchy. You can learn more about this and other activities to increase jaw skills for both feeding and speech clarity in my book, "Assessment and Treatment of the Jaw: Putting it all together, Sensory Feeding and Speech."

If you do decide to purchase that book please read the chapter on Sensory first as it will explain to you in more detail the reason why babies and children with muscle-based deficits develop "habits" to compensate for the jaw weaknesses. I would also encourage you to share this information with your SLP as she may have additional suggestions.

I hope this has answered your question.

Sara Rosenfeld-Johnson, MS, CCC-SLP

Tervehdys!

 

I am speech pathologist from Finland, took your class about Feeding Therapy: a sensory-motor approach at Helsinki last May. I am sending you an e-mail, because I met a new client shortly after the class and this case really bothers me. I have asked permission from parents, to send this e-mail and pictures/short video when he's eating. So, this boy is 5 years old, he has had feeding issues since he was baby. Nowadays he eats almost anything but no meat. It seems like he doesn't have enough strength at his muscles to bite. When he eats, he puts lots of food into his mouth, only couple of bites and then he swallows. Looks like he's gagging when eating. He uses only couple of words, can't elevate his tongue without gagging. And when pronouncing for example sound /a/, he gags and tongue goes into "cup." He can't reach his upper alveoli with his tongue. The situation is horrible, I have only met him couple of times and it seems like the posterior tongue-tip would be one problem, maybe also tissue around it. I am writing a paper about him because he's going to see a doctor in September. But if it's possible, I would like to get another opinion - yours :-) Thank you so much, if you have time to answer me.

 

Yours,

 

Mrs. R

Hello R,

Hi Sara,

 

It has been awhile since we have seen you in Richmond! James is doing well. His speech seems pretty normal to us at this point (maybe some subtle things remaining). I was emailing with a related question, and hoping that you can point us in the right direction.

 

James has had some issues in the past with "mouthing" things (for lack of a better word). This seems to wax and wane, but in the last few months, it seems to be significantly worse. He will either have his hands/fingers/thumb in his mouth, or water bottle, pencil, swim cap and goggles, etc depending on the situation. It seems to be something that he does unconsciously, despite our attempts to call his attention to it, even trying "penalties" for having his hands in his mouth. Lately, I have noticed him doing even while talking to his friends, while playing soccer (when there isn't any action near him), etc. He is 11, so it is an increasingly odd behavior than it might have been at age 2. (We haven't noticed any other odd behaviors or habits, just this one...and otherwise he does well in school, socially and in sports).

 

We aren't sure what the next right step is to help him be able to stop this habit. Deterrents don't seem to work, other than to stop it while it is happening, and I wonder what the root cause of it actually is. I am not sure that a regular speech therapist would be there right person. Do you have any thoughts on how to help him?

The situation you describe is often seen with individuals who have innate muscle weakness. The habits seem to come and go and can take many forms as you mentioned above. Last time I saw him (May 27, 2012) I recommended a gum chewing program. I use gum chewing as outlined in the book Assessment and Treatment of the Jaw for both improving muscle skills in the muscles of the jaw and as an alternative to the "habits" you describe. There are more nerves going through the Temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) than any other place in the human body. It is where we go for calming. Babies suck their thumbs, bite on their fingers, rely on a pacifier, etc, to give stimulation to that joint.

James may also need to give stimulation to that joint for calming and that is where gum chewing comes into play. If he does not know how to chew gum without swallowing the gum you will have to teach him this motor plan by going to that activity in the book Oral Placement Therapy for Speech Clarity and Feeding. In it you will be given a step-by-step program which I have used with children as young as 2 years of age.

Once​ ​ he can chew independently​ use the gum chewing as an alternative to the "mouthing." I hope this answers your question. Please tell him I said "hello."

Sara Rosenfeld-Johnson, MS, CCC-SLP

Hi and Good Morning!

 

I am writing from Israel, I have participated in your course that you have presented in November in Jerusalem. Thank Goodness I have been using many of your techniques to assist my clients and I have seen success.

 

Sara, I have an important question to ask regarding an adorable child, Charlie. I will describe Charlie and my results of oral-motor exam administered as best as possible so that you may answer us accordingly! Thank you for your time!

 

I have been seeing Charlie since mid February. Charlie is 3.5 years old. He is developmentally and cognitively delayed (has seizures). According to exam he is both hyper-hypo sensitive, he enjoyed the toothette (with orange juice) in his mouth- at home he constantly requests for the pink, fluffy toothette. He allowed me to go around his mouth and in the mouth after a lot of work. (The second session he only let the toothettes). Charlie's jaw, tongue and lips are weak, and there is not enough dissociation between jaw, lips and tongue. Little grading of jaw, needs jaw assistance to drink from straw #1.

 

Tongue thrust while drinking. Lip closure, protrusion, rounding is poor. Speech is limited to single syllable words (deletes sounds), or short phrases-he is not so clear. He is being treated by PROMPT therapist since he is 2 years old. I have given them a structured program including many tools you have taught (ice stick, chewy tube, etc.). They have been practicing and carrying out exercises every day...he is starting to feel his mouth, they have seen a lot of drooling, sticking hands in mouth constantly and even so more, a lot of biting (siblings, friends). Parents are very concerned, they understand that the exercises will help him feel and strengthen lips, jaw and tongue, better speech and feeding. But, now there is excessive biting and touching of the mouth!

 

Sara, is this a normal occurrence?

Yes I do see this response when a child first identifies the positive sensory feedback from increased jaw movements. It is actually a positive sign but I can see why the family is concerned. I will make the following suggestions:

1. Make sure they are doing the Bite-Tube Hierarchy set with as many of the 4 tubes he can use, 10 times each day and to do them as soon as he makes the move to bite someone or touching his mouth.

2. Add the Bite Block exercise and the gum chewing exercise.

If you do all of these exercises, everyday, he will not need to bite. I hope this answers your question.

Sara Rosenfeld-Johnson, MS, CCC-SLP